Child&#39;s stroller having spring supported seat



Oct. 31, 1950 R. P. MUFFLEY 2,527,953

CHILDS STROLLER HAVING SPRING SUPPORTED SEAT Filed April 28, 1947 2 She eos-Sheet 1 I rzventor Robert R Mu ffley By W 3' WWW fi aaagg j ha. 31, 1959 R, P, MUFFL 'Y 2,527,953

CHILDS STROLLER HAVING SPRING SUPPORTED SEAT Filed April 2a. 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Robert I? Muffley WWW 15. m

Patented Oct. 31, 1950 OFFICE CHILDS STROLLER HAVING SPRING SUPPORTED SEAT Robert P. Mufliey, McCook, Nebr. Application April 28, 1947, Serial No. 744,407

This invention appertains to nove1 and useful improvements in devices for propelling children, both for their amusement and transportation.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved vehicle for children which comprises a body made of a center board with a figure at the front thereof together with a seat which is pivoted immediately behind the figure, said seat having a pivotal back rest connected therewith to support the child and the center board having a compartment at the rear for receiving various and sundry articles, and the back rest having provisions to accommodate an extension for the comfort of the child.

Another purpose of this invention is to provide an attractive appearing device which is smoothly operating and which lends itself well to commercial manufacture and usual shop practices, utilizing only conventional materials.

Ancillary objects and features of novelty as well as those specifically stated hereinabove, will be- 14 Claims; (01. 155-55) come apparent to those skilled in the art, in following the description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the present invention, parts being removed;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the invention disclosed in Figure 1 and taken substantially 0n the line 22 thereof and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View of the invention disclosed in Figure 2 and taken substantially on the line 33 thereof and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of the invention disclosed in Figure 1 and taken substantially on the line 44 thereof;

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the seat and back rest construction, showing a removable extension for said back rest;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the handle means forming part of the present invention, showing the same with parts broken away;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a detail of construction exemplifying the footrest means used in conjunction with the present invention;

Figure 8 is an alternate form of decorative figurehead used in conjunction with the instant invention;

Figure ,9 is a perspective view of a modified form of figurehead usedherewith, and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary elevational view of the back rest.

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Referring now in detail to the illustrated preferred embodiments of the present invention, like reference characters are used throughout to indicate similar elements.

A body member I 0, composed of wood, metal or any other suitable material, is provided with a decorative figurehead l2 thereon. It is noted at this point that any type of figurine may be used in place of the illustrated member l2 if so desired. As is seen from Figures 8 and 9, a pony l4 and a bear [6 may be used by discarding the body member 10 in favor of another one with the pony or bear shape at one end thereof.

A perch i8 is secured to the forward end of the said body member by some suitable conventional means such as screws, rivets and the like. A bore 20 is in said perch l8 and a stub shaft 22 is adapted to be received therein. A bifurcated steering member 24 is rigidly secured to one terminal portion of said shaft 22 as by welding, riveting or the like and a thrust bearing 26 is interposed between a shoulder of said bifurcated member and the perch IS. AS is seen from Figure l, a suitable limiting means is provided at the opposite end of said shaft 22, preferably the usual head 28.

An aperture 30 is formed in the said body member In and a pivot pin 32 is rotatably placed therein. It is noted that this aperture and pivot pin are adjacent the forward end or caster 34 of the invention. A seat 36 is fabricated with a bifurcated extension 3 8 thereon. The said bifurcated extension is adapted to be received on said body member, the member In extending through the bifurcation in the portion 38 and the same end resting on said pivot pin 32. Suitable securing means may be used to secure said bifurcatedend to the pivot pin. A transverse extension 40 having a slot 42 centrally thereof is rigidly secured to the under portion of said seat. The slotted member l!) is received on the said body portion IE] and is resiliently urged therefrom by a suitable conventional resilient biasing means such as a coil spring 44 positioned in a notch 46 which is provided in the said body mem- For this purpose an enlargement 48 is made in said slot 42 and receives said resilient biasing means 44 therein. A back rest portion '50 is pivotally received on said seat and is constructed as follows: A continuous heavy wire member 52 is provided with curves and'bends to constitute a substantially annular skeleton portion. A hinge 52, which may be in the form of simple eye brackets, is secured to therear portionof said seat 36 and encirclesaselected wireiiof':

said skeleton 52. Apertures 56 are provided through said seat and extensions 58 of the framing member 52 extend therethrough. A substantially arcuate foraminous filler member 60 is provided on said framing member 52 thus constituting the back rest portion. Perches 62 in the form of arcuate extensions of said framing member extend forward of said back rest and are adapted to receive a siutable safety belt 64 thereacross. It is quite apparent that this belt is for the purpose of confining a child in the seat for safety purposes.

It is apparent that the seat 36 is permitted to have pivotal motion about the axis of pivot pin 32 and the back rest is pivotal about the pivot point or hinge 54. The said extensions 58 provide limiting means for the travel of said back rest since when said back rest moves a predetermined amount, the bent edges or stops 66 abut the under portion of said seat thereby preventing further motion. A pair of tubes 68 are secured to the rear portion of said back rest and are adapted to receive in removable relation therewith the back rest extension 69. The pref erable construction of said removable back rest is a pair of wires H! of substantially the same length, an arcuate tube removably joining a pair of terminal portions thereof and said tube covered with a heavy webbing such as canvas 12 or the like. This back rest extension 69 may be removably secured to said back rest 56 by sliding a pair of ends of the said wires In in the tubes 68, two of which are provided for this purpose. This construction permits of easy disassembly into a small, easily handled bundle.

It is noted at this point that a resilient latching member 13 is provided on the back rest. This hook removably engages the seat member for holding the said back rest in the upward position.

An aperture 14 is provided adjacent said aperture 30 for receiving a pivot pin 16 therein. It is seen from an inspection of Figure '7 that the said pivot pin 16 is a joining member between a pair of stirrups and that spacers 7! are disposed on the pin 16 between the member in and the stirrups. The said stirrups comprise a, base 18 having a heel rest 80 rigidly secured thereto and a tie strip 84 is received over said base, secured thereunder and pivotally received on the pivot pin 16. There is a pair of said stirrups and the other one thereof is identical to the stirrup described herein. It can be seen from an inspection of Figure 4 that a single stirrup is received on'each side of the body member ID. Further, a conventional wing nut 86 is received on one terminal portion of the said pivot pin 16 thereby permitting the stirrups to be locked in a predetermined fixed position, if so desired.

A crossmember 88 is rigidly secured to the rear portion of said body member ill and has an axle rigidly secured to the bottom thereof. The said axle 90 has suitable conventional wheels 92 removably secured thereto, utilizing conventional tassel nuts 94 at each end of the said axle. A

platform 96 is secured to the upperportion of partment adjacent the'brace member Hill.- It is noted that the body -lll is received lonigtudi-' 'above.

4 nally through said sleeve. A handle means N16 has a reduced shank I88 thereon and a slot I09 longitudinally of said reduced shank. This slot is adapted to be received around the body It] when the handle means I06 is received in its operative position or otherwise stated in the sleeve I02. A suitable conventional springloaded pin H0 is received in said reduced shank and is adapted to cooperate with an aperture 1 l 2 provided in said sleeve.

By this construction, the handle means may be removed by simply exerting a force on the spring-loaded locking pin H0 and Slipping the handle selectively in or out of the said sleeve.

It is seen that a device capable of performing all of the specifically-mentioned objects as well as ancillary'objects, has been described herein- However, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes including omissions and additions may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, limitation is sought only in accordance with the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the present invention what is claimed as novel and improved is as follows:

1. A stroller comprising a body member, footrests pivoted to said body member, means for locking said footrests in predetermined pivotal positions, a seat having a forward extending projection pivoted to said body member, said seat having an extension attached to the undersurface thereof with a slot therein, means in said slot for resiliently biasing said seat, said slot having a portion of said body member therein for guiding said seat in .a predetermined travel, back rest means pivoted to said seat, and limiting means on said back rest means engaging the undersurface of said seat.

2. A stroller comprising a body member, a seat having'a bifurcated forward extension pivoted to said body member, a transverse extension secured to the undersurface of said seat and having a slot therein, means for resiliently biasing said seat positioned in said slot and reacting on said body member, said body portion engaged with said slot for guiding said seat in a predetermined travel, back rest means pivoted to said seat, and limiting means on said back rest means extending through said seat.

3. A stroller comprising a body member, a seat pivoted at the front end thereof to said body member, a transverse extension secured to said seat and having a slot therein, means for resiliently biasing said seat in said slot, a portion of said body within said slot for guiding said seat in a predetermined pivotal travel, back rest means pivoted to said seat, limiting means on said back rest means, said limiting means comprising arcuate extensions secured to said back rest means, apertures in said seat and said extensions extending through said apertures, and stops on the terminal portions of said extensions adapted to engage the undersurface of said seat. 4. A stroller comprising a body member, a seat pivoted adjacent the forward end thereof to said body member, means for resiliently biasing said seat within said body and reacting on said seat, means projecting from the undersurface of said seat for guiding said seat in a predetermined travel, back rest means pivoted to said seat, limiting means on said back rest means extending through said seat, said back rest means including a grid member, and hinge means secured to said seat and said grid member.

5. In a vehicle having a body, a'seat having a member with a slot therein projecting therefrom, an enlargement in the slot and the slot receiving a portion of the body therein, means for pivotally attaching said seat to said body, and resilient means in said enlargement biasing said seat, a wire hingedly attached to said seat having curves constituting a frame, and a covering over said frame.

6. In a vehicle having a body, a seat having a member with a slot therein projecting therefrom, an enlargement in the slot and the slot receiving a portion of the body therein, means for pivotally attaching said seat to said body, and resilient means in said enlargement biasing said seat, a wire hingedly attached to said seat having curves constituting a frame, a covering over said frame, said body having a notch, and said resilient means comprising a spring seated in said notch and in said enlargement.

7. In a vehicle having a body, a seat having a member with a slot therein projecting therefrom, an enlargement in the slot and the slot receiving a portion of the body therein, means for pivotally attaching said seat to said body, and resilient means in said enlargement biasing said seat, a wire hingedly attached to said seat having curves constituting a frame and a covering over said frame, said body having a notch, said resilient means comprising a spring seated in said notch and said enlargement, extensions of said wire projecting through said seat and bent portionsat the terminals thereof cooperatingwith said seat to limit the pivotal travel of said wire relative to said seat.

8. For use in a stroller having a body, a seat back rest, means for hingedly attaching said'back rest at its rear portion to said seat adjacent the rear portion thereof, means associated with said back rest and extending through said seat to limit the pivotal travel of said back rest relative to said seat, and resilient means seated in said said body and reacting on said seat for biasing said seat relative to said body.

9. For use in a stroller having a body, a seat pivoted adjacent its forward end to said body, a wire having bends therein to form an arcuate back rest, means for hingedly attaching saidback rest at its rear portion to said seat adjacent the rear portion thereof, means associated with said back rest and extending through said seat to limit the pivotal travel of said back rest relative to said seat, resilient means seated in said body 10. The combination of claim 9 and said slothaving a portion of 'said body received therein to prevent excessive lateral movement of said 13. A vehicle for children comprising a body including a centerboard with a notch, a seat pivoted adjacent its forward end to said centerboard, an extension secured to the undersurfac of said seat and having a slot therein, a portion of said centerboard adjacent the notch being received in said slot, an enlargement in said slot and a spring seated in said enlargement and said notch, a wire frame pivoted to said seat adjacent the rear portion thereof, a covering on said frame,

and arcuate arms having stops thereon extending through said seat to limit the pivotal travel of said wire frame.

14. A vehicle for children comprising a body including a centerboard with a notch, a seat pivoted adjacent its forward end to said centerboard,

an extension secured to the undersurface of said seat and having a slot therein, a portion of said centerboard adjacent the notch being received in said slot, an enlargement in said slot and a spring seated in said enlargement andsaid notch, a wire frame pivoted to said seat adjacent the rear portion thereof,.acovering-on said frame, arcuate arms having stops thereon extending through said seat tolimit the pivotal travel of said wire frame, and perches on said frame projecting forwardly thereof for accommodating a strap.

' ROBERT P. MUFFLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Black Sept. 27, 1949 

